Looking east

I have never been to China. Decades ago, way back in my formative years, I asked a friend where it is. "Look East," he said. As if I didn't know, he added: "East is where the sun rises from." Later in geography class we were shown a map that looked like a rooster. The teacher had only this to say: It's a land of vast size, huge population and rich resources. And, he added after an afterthought, its people have skills in silk.

I have never been to China. But according to palaeontologists, supported by hominid fossils, the Chinese originated from Kenya. Kenya after all, is the cradle of mankind. Perhaps the climate proved uninviting, or perhaps it was a want of change of scene from the endless and monotonous savannah grassland, or perhaps it was just the wonder of discovering the world. Whatever the reason, it appears an adventurous Homo erectus, wandered about eastwards only to end up in China. They call him the Peking man. His descendants later camped along Yellow river. Beginning with making and using simple crude tools and fidgeting with fire, they advanced to form the cradle of Chinese civilization. This civilization led to some of the great inventions that made enormous contribution to world civilization: paper making, printing, compass and gunpowder.

I have never been to China. I can only place a finger to its map on an atlas. Napoleon Bonaparte, who thought of China a sleeping dragon, too placed his finger on a map and declared: Let her sleep, for when she awakes the earth will shake. I suppose the French emperor had in mind the world in general and Kenya in particular when he uttered those prophetic and famous words of warning. The other day, I stood watching a road under construction. The ground was literary being shaken by bulldozers, earth movers and other heavy machineries.

And the Chinese are not only shaking the earth by building roads and highways. The Chinese firms dominate our construction industries. Dedication to their work, skilled workmanship, executing projects on time, has won them respect and admiration of Kenyans. They are shaking the earth as they construct various large buildings: bridges, offices, sports stadiums and churches, like the one I attend. You can only imagine how much more shaking we are yet to bear and endure as the government embarks on the vision 2030. Among the massive infrastructure lined up is a railway line that transverse the length and breadth of the country. Its aim is not only to open up the whole country to development, but also to connect many of our neighbouring countries. Just like in my formative years, it looks like someone has told our leaders: “Look East!” for ties for economic growth. And China no longer in a slumber has responded fast. I see companies that have set up shop in Kenya. They have established a strong local presence in telecoms infrastructure, automobile, battery, and even food. Among the fruits we are reaping from this close co-operation and constructive economic engagement includes the creation of thousands of jobs for young Kenyans.

No, I have never set a foot in China, but this Asian giant is not only expanding economic footprints in Kenya, but all over Africa and the rest of the world. China, like the sun, is rising. Already it's the world second biggest economy. And it won't stop until it is top. Our hopes are high that it will transform our country and the region and together we shall overcome present and future challenges. It has won the doubters over and demonstrated it has the capacity and the technical know how to make it happen. China's commitment to the continent is unquestionable. It's a commitment that helps rather than hinders development. That is the reason it is gaining a foothold in Africa.

I have never been to China, but China has come to me. It is actually right inside my house. It assaults my five senses; sound, smell, taste, light and touch. My household is the typical Kenyan one, full of consumers who everyday are exposed, introduced to, and bombarded to buy a wide variety of goods. In this era of price escalation and inflationary pressure from the turbulence in the commodity prices, I have joined an army of others who have greatly discovered the delight of owning high quality but relatively low-priced goods that have become popular and fashionable. These goods, from foods, furniture to electronics, all bear the ubiquitous stamp – made in PRC.

I have never been to China, probably will never be. But my daughter hopes to. She is learning Chinese and as much of China as she can. She watches CCTV broadcasts and has even attempted to eat rice with chopsticks. She is not confused about Confucius like I am. This great man was a Thinker and a Philosopher. His philosophy was ‘cool,' she says. It emphasized morality, justice, sincerity and correctness of social relationships. She also tells me about a Zheng He. He was a sailor, an Admiral, who reached these regions from the East in the early fifteen century, before Vasco Da Gama. Along our coast, archaeologists have unearthed evidence relating to this fact. Not only that, some resident along the same coast bear genes and features that are unquestionable as to their origin. The government may have made a deliberate decision to look east recently, but it looks like we have been looking East throughout the ages.

I have never been to China. But I know much more about it than I did back in my formative years. I know the dragon is not only awake but it is marching forward. Kenya is discovering it has rich resources and a large population relative to its size. In many ways, we have been in an economic slumber. We can wake up and learn more from the giant that was once asleep.